Harlequin shrimp are among the most popular shrimp in the saltwater aquarium industry. They have beautiful bold colors and funky patterns. Yet, they are also one of the most challenging shrimp species to care for.
Harlequins live throughout the Indo-Pacific amongst the rubble of coral reefs. They are very peaceful despite their excellent hunting skills.
These shrimp live on a diet of starfish and sea urchins. Mated pairs work together to hunt down starfish and feed on them for weeks at a time.
Continue reading to learn more about their fascinating reproductive and hunting habits. Harlequins have a host of qualities that make them unique from other shrimp.
What Are Harlequin Shrimp?
Harlequin shrimp also go by the name “painted shrimp.” They get their name from their vibrant colors and frenzied patterns. They have pale, cream-colored bodies with a mix of scraggly lines and bright spots. Plus, their bodies come in odd, geometric shapes.
Painted shrimp are saltwater animals that live in coral reefs.
The combination of their body shape and color helps them to blend in. They match the bright colors of the corals and anemones they live with.
- Common Names: Harlequin Shrimp, Painted Shrimp, Blue Harlequin Shrimp
- Scientific Name: Hymenocera picta, Hymenocera elegans
- Origin: Tropical Indo-Pacific
- Length: Up to 2 inches
- Lifespan: About 2-3 years
Harlequin Shrimp Are Tiny
Harlequin shrimp are tiny animals that can easily hide within the coral landscape. They rarely grow larger than 2 in (5.1 cm).
Legs, Pincers, & Antennae
They have a pair of chelipeds, or claws, that are large and flattened. Eight pereiopods, or legs, sit behind the chelipeds in pairs. They use these legs for crawling. The legs are exceptionally skinny compared to the size of their bodies. Lastly, they have five pairs of pleopods on their abdomens that they use for swimming.
A set of tiny eyes sit on their heads atop thin stalks.
They have a thin pair of antennae on the top of their heads that look like flattened leaves. The antennae are sensitive and help the shrimp to smell nearby prey.
While moving, their claws and antenna sway back and forth in delicate motions. Some aquarists describe these motions as a type of dance.
Chemical Receptors
Harlequins have sensitive chemical receptors. They allow them to sense the things around them.
Lifespan
Shrimp keepers report their Harlequins living for about two to three years. They likely live longer than this in the wild — up to seven years. Their short lifespans likely correlate with how difficult it is to care for them.
The Common Harlequin Shrimp VS The Blue Harlequin Shrimp
There are two Harlequin shrimp species. The first is the common Harlequin (Hymenocera picta). The second is the blue Harlequin (Hymenocera elegans).
Researchers are still debating whether these two shrimp are really separate species. Some experts say H. elegans is only a subspecies of H. picta. Until researchers know for sure, the two shrimp have differing classifications.
The common Harlequin has blue edges around its body. The rest of the body is speckled with brownish-orange to bright-pink spots.
The blue Harlequin has yellow edges with a body covered in vivid blue spots.
Habitat
The common Harlequin shrimp lives throughout the central and eastern Pacific Oceans. The blue Harlequin lives in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
Harlequin shrimp live near coral reefs. The corals match their bright colors, making it easier for the shrimp to blend in.
These shrimp live amongst animals like corals, anemones, sponges, and bryozoans. Harlequin shrimp prefer to live in the rubble piles outside coral reefs. The coral rubble is where starfish, the Harlequin shrimp’s prey, live.
Behavior & Temperament
Like most shrimp, Harlequins are shy and peaceful. Yet, they don’t hide during the day as most shrimp do. They are active during the day, roaming about, looking for their next meal.
They are somewhat social, preferring to live in mating pairs that last a lifetime. Having a lifelong mate makes breeding easier. It also provides them with a hunting partner.
Harlequin shrimp don’t like being in the presence of other members of their sex. They become aggressive and territorial.
Diet
These shrimp are picky eaters that only eat starfish and urchins. Starfish are their first pick; they only eat urchins if no starfish are available.
Harlequin shrimp are “specialist predators.” They have a specific, restricted diet but are expert hunters that easily locate prey.
Mating pairs often work together to eat starfish; the males are better hunters.
Killing Starfish
Eating starfish is an aggressive pastime. The shrimp eat the starfish alive and take their time killing it.
To eat a starfish, they stand on top of it to immobilize it. Then, they flip it onto its back. Once on its back, the shrimp begin by eating the starfish’s soft tube feet.
Starfish use their tube feet to attach to things and fix themselves when on their backs. Once the shrimp eats the tube feet, the starfish cannot rescue itself.
After they’ve eaten the tube feet, the shrimp move onto the arms. They begin at the tips of the arms and make their way toward the central disk. The central disk sits at the center of the starfish’s body and is where its mouth is.
It can take shrimp over two weeks to eat a starfish. The starfish is alive during this entire ordeal.
Starfish die quickly once the shrimp begin eating the central disk.
Reproduction
Harlequin shrimp are very unique from other shrimp in that they mate for life. Their bonds can last for years, and the pair will return to each other each mating season.
Having a mate does not stop male Harlequin shrimp from mating with other females. A male that finds a young, fertile female may mate with her and then shortly return to his mate after.
These shrimp will mate shortly after the female molts her shell. She can’t mate before molting because her old shell will be too hard. Harlequins breed once per molt, about every 18 to 26 days.
After mating, a female carries her eggs underneath her abdomen. A single female can produce between 1,000 and 5,000 eggs at a time.
The incubation period lasts about two to three weeks, and the mother carries her eggs the whole time. She fans them with her pleopods, or swimming legs, off and on. Fanning the eggs keeps them oxygenated and keeps them free of debris.
The eggs turn translucent two to three days before hatching, and the mother stops eating.
Conservation
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not assessed this species.
It’s likely that these shrimp may suffer from coral reef damage.
Coral reefs suffer from a lot of anthropogenic, or human-caused, damage.
One of the biggest threats to coral reefs is pollution from runoff and discharge. Contaminated water from the land runs into the ocean and affects coral reefs. Pollution also comes from dredging, agriculture, coastal development, deforestation, and sewage treatment plants.
The pet trade is another significant threat to coral reefs and their inhabitants. Careless divers damage the corals as they move throughout the reef.
The fishing methods are also destructive.
Fishers often use “blast” fishing. They use dynamite or other explosives to scare fish out of their hiding places. Blasting kills many reef animals and damages corals.
Other fishers spray cyanide on coral reefs to stun fish, which kills corals.
FAQs
How Much Do Harlequin Shrimp Cost?
Harlequin shrimp usually cost between $40 and $200. They are one of the most expensive saltwater shrimp species. Their cost is due to their beautiful colors and difficulty in breeding.
The exact cost depends on the size, species, and number of shrimp bought. Buying Harlequin shrimp in pairs is often cheaper than buying two shrimp separately.
Are Harlequin Shrimp Good For Beginners?
Harlequin shrimp are not suitable for beginners — far from it.
They are one of the most difficult shrimp species to care for; only experts should attempt it.
Harlequin shrimp are incredibly sensitive to poor water quality and fluctuations.
They are also picky eaters that only eat starfish. Aquarists that don’t provide them with starfish will slowly starve their shrimp to death.
Are Harlequin Shrimp Reef-Safe?
Yes, Harlequin shrimp are reef-safe for all organisms except starfish.
In the wild, these shrimp live near coral reefs, and their vibrant colors and patterns help them blend in. Harlequins are peaceful animals that will not bother corals, anemones, worms, etc.
Harlequin shrimp eat starfish. Aquarists shouldn’t place any starfish they wish to live in a tank with Harlequins. They eat sea urchins when starving, and nothing else is available. They will leave sea urchins alone as long as there are starfish.
